The network of fortified coastal sites in Southeast Arabia has been included in the UNESCO Tentative List, increasing the country's total number of listed sites to sixteen, including six sites in Sharjah.
This network encompasses three historical locations—Dibba Al Hisn, Khor Fakkan, and Khor Kalba—which are linked by their role in trade, navigation, and coastal defense along the Arabian Sea.
Inclusion in the Tentative List is a significant step toward a potential future nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it also creates a stronger foundation for further research, preservation, and protection of these sites.
The Sharjah Archaeology Authority reported that these three sites demonstrate the vital role coastal communities played in trade, navigation, and defense across various historical periods. Their history spans over two millennia, starting from when ports became part of Indian Ocean trade routes, and extending through periods of Portuguese control and subsequent rule by the Al Qasimi.
Dibba Al Hisn, located at the northern end of the network, is situated in Dibba Bay near the Musandam Peninsula. Archaeological excavations at Dibba fort have revealed evidence of human life in the area from the Neolithic period to the 20th century. Researchers found workshops where imported glass materials were used to make local vessels, facilities for processing dates and pearls, and a 19th-century site used for fish salting.
These findings indicate that Dibba was not merely a place of residence but a vibrant coastal settlement connected to trade routes linking the Arabian Peninsula with Persia, India, East Africa, and the Mediterranean.
Further south is Khor Fakkan, one of the most naturally protected harbors on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Its location between the Hajar Mountains and the sea made it an important stopover for ships and traders. Archaeologists have discovered two main forts, old houses, and parts of a historic city wall, including a section over 155 meters long.
The western fort also shows how control over the territory changed. Its remains include an early fortified structure related to the Portuguese period, followed by later constructions built during Arab and Al Qasimi rule.
At the southern end of the network is Khor Kalba, located at the mouth of the Kalba stream and surrounded by mangrove swamps and shallow coastal waters. Historical records show that Kalba was once a fortified settlement before the Portuguese captured it in 1624. The Portuguese built a fort there, parts of which have since been discovered by archaeologists. Remains include a four-sided enclosure, two round towers, and a main entrance.
Later, Kalba became part of the maritime sphere of the Al Qasimi and participated in supplying ships, defending the coast, and regulating traffic in the Gulf of Oman.
Together, the three sites demonstrate how ports, forts, and coastal communities were interconnected and functioned as part of a broader maritime system.
Sheikha Boudour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Literary Culture and ambassador for the Fayla World Heritage site, noted that the inclusion of six Sharjah sites in the UAE Tentative List reflects the emirate's broader efforts to study and preserve its heritage. She emphasized that the significance of this latest addition goes beyond the mere number of sites on the list, pointing to the need for a long-term system for researching, protecting, and presenting Sharjah's heritage to the world.
Eisa Yousif, Director General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, stated that the latest addition is part of a longer process of research and conservation. He added that the next phase will focus on further archaeological surveys and studies to gain a deeper understanding of the three sites and their history, which may contribute to a future nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
This step continues Sharjah's efforts to gain international recognition for its archaeological heritage. In July 2025, the Fayla Paleolandscape was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming the second UAE World Heritage site after the Al Ain Cultural Sites, inscribed in 2011.